Program Manager - Forestry Assistance Bureau Chief

Position Title:

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.

The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.

• We value and respect each other.
• We create collaborative work environments.
• We build and maintain strong relationships.
• We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work

The Forestry Assistance Bureau Chief is responsible for developing and administering statewide services to communities and private landowners to promote sustainable forests and watersheds, and for managing bureau budgets, policies, staff and administrative systems to effectively support operations. The position reports to the State Forester/Forestry Division Administrator and manages approximately 17 FTE in the Forest Practices, Nursery, and Forest Stewardship Sections.

These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not all-inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent.

Develop and administer statewide forestry assistance programs and policies to direct the provision of technical assistance to communities and private landowners and to promote sustainable forests and watersheds.

Develop strategic goals and objectives to implement forestry assistance programs and initiatives in accordance with executive and legislative intent. This involves researching statewide forestry assistance needs and opportunities; coordinating stakeholder involvement in planning; facilitating meetings; cultivating relationships with federal, state, and local government agencies; documenting program goals and objectives; integrating Forestry Assistance activities with Division and Department plans and objectives; and determining the policies, staff and other resources necessary to achieve goals.

Develop policies and rules to guide program operations and ensure compliance with applicable local, state and federal law. This includes identifying policy development or revision needs; reviewing proposals from bureau staff; formulating policy proposals to the Administrator and Director; drafting, soliciting comment on, and adopting administrative rules; and ensuring statewide implementation of new rules or policies.

Direct and perform public relations, outreach, and education to inform interested parties of forestry assistance and restoration project initiatives, generate support for forestry assistance objectives and projects, and disseminate information through the media, community groups, and other outlets. This includes planning, coordinating and delivering presentations, overseeing bureau information dissemination, and assessing the effectiveness of communication efforts.

Manage Forestry Assistance Bureau budgets, policies, equipment and administrative systems to effectively support program operations in compliance with local, state and federal regulations.

Plan and direct the bureau's Executive Planning Process and Legislative Budget request to ensure adequate funding for operations including the personal services, operations, and capital budgets. This includes determining current and anticipated funding requirements; drafting narrative justifications to support requests; resolving budget deficiencies and discrepancies; developing and presenting financial information and program documentation; and providing testimony and responses including the preparation of fiscal notes related to legislative proposals.

Manage the bureau budget to ensure financial operations adhere to allocations, program plans, and statutory authorities. This includes reviewing expenditures, evaluating revenues, identifying potential surpluses or deficiencies, making appropriate adjustments, and apprising leadership of budget status.

Oversee cost-share, grant, partnership and other funding programs to provide funding and grants for stewardship, fuel reduction, and other forest management services and objectives. This includes granting funds, monitoring project compliance and outcomes through subordinate staff, and ensuring grant compliance and reporting.

Determine the organizational structure of the Forestry…